Are Super PAC Donors About to Awake?

Near the village, the peaceful village, the lion sleeps tonight. The Wimoweh lyrics held true for some presidential super PAC donors in 2013, but as the 2016 presidential hopefuls start to shake hands of major donors around the country, things may change.

One major Super PAC donor during the 2012 presidential election, who has been quiet during 2013, is H. Gary Morse. Morse and his family control The Villages, a billion-dollar retirement community business northwest of Orlando, Florida. The age-restricted community is operated by The Villages Family Company and numerous related limited liability corporations (LLCs).

During 2011-21012, Morse and his wife Renee, along with a dozen other LLCs, donated $1,445,000 to the super PACs Restore Our Future, American Crossroads, Freedom PAC, and America on the Move. An individual may give unlimited amounts to Super PAC,s who only make independent expenditures. It is not clear why Morse chose to use numerous LLCs that he controls, but that may have been where the money was. Under some state campaign finance laws donors use LLCs to get around disclosure and dollar limit restrictions. On the federal level, the Citizens United Supreme Court case permitted the use of corporate contributions.

The Villages also gave $50K to Freedom PAC. The Holding Company of the Villages also gave $10K to America on the Move.

Beyond the dozen Morse-related LLCs, there were five other LLCs that gave. The Shopping Center Development LLC gave $50K to Restore Our Future and $25K to American Crossroads. The Diversified Commercial Properties Services LLC gave $50K to Restore Our Future and $40K to American Crossroads. The Mid-Florida Property LLC gave $50K to Restore Our Future and $25K to American Crossroads. The MMMP LLC gave $50K to American Crossroads. SCD Investment gave $50K to Restore Our Future and $25K to American Crossroads. If these were Morse-controlled, it would bring his total to over $1.8 million in the 2011-2012 cycle.

Although Gary Morse and his related LLCs have not been reported as 2013 donors to Super PACs or Section 527 organizations, they could have been donors to 501c4 non-profit ‘social welfare’ organizations, that are not required to disclose the names of those contributing to their organization.

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Political MoneyLine is about following money in politics. It's a cash register for givers, receivers and those who want to watch the flow.

Kent Cooper has been uncovering and counting political money since 1972, when new disclosure laws took effect. He was assistant staff director for the Federal Election Commission's disclosure office for 22 years.

Tony Raymond was at the FEC for more than 20 years, analyzing reports and serving as the FEC's first webmaster.

They currently produce the Political MoneyLine website on CQ.com and developed its earlier versions: FECInfo, Public Disclosure Inc., and Tray.com.